The History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland by Gregory Donald

Author:Gregory, Donald [Gregory, Donald]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: The Grian Press
Published: 2011-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

Invergarry Castle, ancient seat of the Macranalds or MacDonells of Glengarry ("Fionn").

We now approach the time when King James quitted his native country of Scotland to commence his reign as Sovereign of Great Britain. His attention was latterly so much occupied in preparing for his peaceable accession to the throne of England, that the disorders in every part of the Highlands and Isles were allowed to increase to a serious height. This is evident from the number of complaints made to the Privy Council by the Lowlanders adjacent to the Highland line, who suffered severely from predatory bands of highlanders. The necessity of quieting the districts nearest to the Lowlands must have contributed to withdraw the attention of the Government from the more remote clans. So feeble, however, were the measures pursued for this object, that it was not until the Clangregor, already under the ban of the law, had made an irruption into the Lennox, and, after defeating the Colquhouns and their adherents at Glenfrune with great slaughter, had plundered and ravaged the whole district, and threatened to burn the town of Dunbarton, that the Government was roused to adequate exertions. This happened in February, 1603, two months before the King set out for London; and, as all the power of the Earl of Argyle and his clan, and of many other Highland chiefs, was required to carry into effect the proscription of the Clangregor, it is not surprising that the Islesmen should for some time have enjoyed a respite from Commissions of Lieutenandry, and similar acts of the Royal authority, indicating his Majesty's paternal anxiety for their reformation.601 In particular, the expedition announced to proceed against the rebels of the Lewis, in order to put the adventurers again in possession of that island, was, owing to these causes, delayed for upwards of two years. James, however, was no sooner firmly seated on the English throne, than his projects for the improvement of the Isles, and at the same time, of his Scottish Crown rents, again occupied his attention, with a better prospect of success than formerly, from the increased resources now at his command. The progress which he made, after becoming King of Great Britain, in reducing the Isles and adjacent Highlands to peace and obedience, will be detailed in the succeeding chapters.

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